Pete's Log: July Reading

Entry #2356, (Books, Writing, n such)
(posted when I was 45 years old.)
  • Kindred by Octavia Butler
    This book was a tough but important read. I kept finding myself putting it down because it was so gut-wrenching but then immediately picking it back up because I need to know what happens.
    It's a story of a modern (at the time of its writing in 1979) black woman who repeatedly gets mysteriously transported back to the American South before the civil war. I really appreciate how Butler explores what the characters feel they have to do to survive and what courage is and what any of us might do in another time and place.
  • The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner
    I would describe this novel as cozy-adjacent fantasy meets noir fiction. The stakes are just high enough to not qualify as true cozy fantasy, but it has that vibe. The main drawback to me was the author's voice feels like somebody who gets just a little too much into character at a renaissance faire, but that seemed to bother me less as I got further into the book. It's a silly book, but I enjoyed it.
  • Translation State by Ann Leckie
    This book is a story of identity and belonging told in the context of the translators for some very alien aliens. I really enjoyed the premise although did feel like the characters could have used a little more development.
    This was another case of me picking up a book without realizing it was set in an established universe, but luckily it was an independent story in that universe. I would read more stories in this universe, though.
    The book does contain some minor cannibalism/gore but perpetrated among aliens.
  • The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
    In his author's note, Scalzi described this novel as a pop song, and added that "it’s meant to be light and catchy" which is exactly what it is. A silly Jurassic Park meets Godzilla book that knows exactly what it is. It was a fun and entertaining read.
    I mostly read the book, but did listen to a few chapters in the car at one point since Jamie had the audiobook. It's narrated by Wil Wheaton, which was extra entertaining.

Three of the four books this month are superficially related to each other: Ann Leckie studied under Octavia Butler at the Clarion West Writers Workshop, and the cover of Translation State had a quote praising it by John Scalzi.